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and expanding it in the future.
Contact VAWatchdog
<jim912@gmail.com>
Fax us toll free
1-888-658-5058
Things You'll Need
Mail your forms, documents
and evidence here...
Department of Veterans Affairs
Claims Intake Center
PO Box 5235
Janesville, WI 53547-5235
Toll Free Fax: 844-822-5246
We recommend that you mail a copy
and then fax a copy! Yes, it's twice the
work but maybe VA will only lose one
and the other will be processed.
Remember: Use Certified Mail!
Forms to File Claims
VA Form 21-526EZ
For...
Disability Service Connection
Secondary Service Connection
IncreasedDisability Compensation
Temporary Total Disability Rating
Individual Unemployability
Compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1151
Special Monthly Compensation
Specially Adapted Housing
Special Home Adaptation
Automobile Allowance/Adaptive Equipment
Benefits Based on a Veteran's
Seriously Disabled Child
VA Form 21-0958 - NOD
Notice of Disagreement
VA Form 21-534 EZ
Application for DIC, Death Pension
Change of Address
TDIU Annual - VA Form 4140
Declaration of Status of Dependents
VA form 21-686c
How To
How To Apply For SSDI
How To Apply For
TDIU Unemployability
How To Use
Disability Benefits Questionnaires
(DBQ's)
How To Apply For A Disability Rating
How To Apply For An Increase
to an existing rating
How To Retrieve Your
Military Personnel Records
Research Your Claim
The M21-1MR
The CFR
TDIU
SMC
The Schedule For Rating Disabilities
Department of Veterans Affairs
Fiduciary Program Manual
Fiduciary Program Responsibilities
Delegation of Authority
Program Organization
Definitions for Program Purposes
Responsibilities of the Field Examiner (FE)
Responsibilities of the
Legal Instruments Examiner
Responsibilities Regarding
the Release of Information
Coordination with Veterans
Health Administration (VHA)
Veterans Benefits
Administration
(VBA)
Fact Sheets
Standard Claims and
Appeals Forms Update
Disability Compensation Benefits
C-123 Aircraft and
Agent Orange Exposure
DBQ's
TDIU
Unemployability
MST
Presumptive Benefits
Special Monthly
Compensation
(SMC)
More veterans today have sleep
disorders, new study reveals
C & P Exams & the
Claims Process
New data sheets from VA
/compensation/claimexam.asp.
If you’ve already been scheduled for a VA
claim exam, but need to reschedule the date
and time, be sure to change your
appointment using the phone number
given to you as soon as possible. For more
information about the claim process, go to www.benefits.va.gov/compensation
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Guide to Federal Records
Records of the Veterans Administration [VA]
(DTRA)
Defense Threat Reduction Agency
VA Payment for Emergency Care
VA Benefits for Sleep Apnea
as a service
connection to PTSD
Brett Valette, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Speak With A
Veterans Law Attorney
An Expert Physician
or a
Veterans
Clinical Psychologist
TODAY!
Case Evaluations Are
Always Free!
PROCEDURAL Guidance
requests to Add Dependents
Legislation will help Pacific veterans
exposed to Agent Orange
How To Leak To ProPublica
Tech Q&A
Finding veterans' records online
MRI twice as likely as biopsy to spot
prostate cancer, research shows
Become a Freedom Fighter
Join the ACLU
VA starts domestic violence program
Department of Defense Extends
Online Military Exchange
Shopping Privileges to Veterans
Here's What Medicare Part A
Costs and Covers in 2017
Welcome to Military Disney Tips!
VA urges veterans to be
screened for hepatitis C
Veterans injured by service wait
years for compensation hearings
"Contact Your Representative!!!"
Who are my representatives?
New Outreach for Vets Regarding
Discharges & Military Records.
Vietnam War
Resources
VA’s Airborne Hazards and Open Burn
Pit Registry for Veterans and Servicemembers
Home Based Primary Care (HBPC)
Veterans Benefits Administration
Benefit Brochures
The Veterans Law Library
U.S. Medicine
Veterans Benefits Administration
Fact Sheets
Benefits.gov
vets.gov
va.gov
evet
ebenefits
Veterans Benefits
Administration
(VBA)
Benefit Brochures
The Fully Developed Claim
eClaim Disability
Compensation Brochure
eBenefits
Your VA & DoD Benefits. Online
Summary of VA Home Loan
Guaranty Benefits
Summary of VA Benefits
Summary of VA Benefits
for Disabled Veterans
UPDATED...April 2017
This is a series of stories
bringing light to the dark side of the
VA’s treatment of some Veterans
applying for disability. Whether out
of frustration, desperation, anger, or
‘just to make it right” they contacted me, and together, we fought the injustice.
These are actual cases and claims.
I have changed names and identifying
information for confidentiality reasons.
This is the first in a series of stories bringing
light to the dark side of the VA’s treatment
of some Veterans applying for disability.
Claim Killer DBQ Questions.
VA Spotlight is a series of stories bringing
light to the dark side of the VA’s treatment
of some Veterans applying for disability.
Whether out of frustration, desperation,
anger, or ‘just to makeit right” they contacted
me, and together, we fought the injustice.
Click Here To Contact Dr. Valette
Department of Veterans Affairs
1-877-881-7618
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET
for assistance
CIA Freedom of Information Act
Electronic Reading Room
VAWatchdog
America's Leading Resource For
Military Veterans News & Benefits Information
Over Ten Years of Service to America's Military Veterans
Since 2005 This Is The Site VA Reads When They
Want To Learn What They've Been Doing
Welcome Aboard!
You should consider an IME or an IMO
We've An Independent Medical Examination or an Independent Medical Opinion
will often make the difference when the details of your claim aren't clear.
The physician who conducts such an exam is a neutral observer and an expert in disability medicine.
Click here to learn more about these exams.
The Schedule For Rating Disabilities
Match Your Disability To The Ones You'll
Find In The Schedule To Determine Your Rating
Veterans Administration Disability Benefits
How To Increase An Existing Rating
Do It Yourself
You Do NOT Need A Representative
If you have an existing rating and you believe that the rated condition
is worse than it was when it was rated or if you believe that your rating
is just too low, you must formally file a claim to increase the rating.
Talking with your doctor or other veterans won't get the process started.
You have to submit the forms.
* Determine exactly what your current ratings are before you proceed.
Dig out those original award letters so that you know exactly what sort
of benefits and ratings you have. Don't just guess at it, get the facts.
You may needto check your records at the eBenefits site.
* Look at the ratings table for your existing benefit.
The Schedule For Rating Disabilities
is your guide to what you may be eligible for.
You may learn that your current rating is already at the maximum or that you're
current rating is seriously deficient. You have to research it to know.
* Gather your evidence and records to support the increase.
If there are civilian medical records, you have to gather those for yourself.
Do not rely on VA to obtain your civilian records.
* Consider having an IMO completed.
The IMO is the most efficient way to provide evidence in support of your claim.
* It's time to file the claim.
Be as precise as you can to describe just what it is that you want.
Provide supporting evidence.
* Congratulations! You're done.
Proceed With Caution
Any time we ask VA to open our file to make any adjustment, we open ourselves
up to a complete review of all ratings. Many veterans get an unpleasant surprise
when they discover that their request for an increase leads to a proposal to decrease a rating.
You have an absolute right to be rated appropriately for each disabling
condition you may have incurred during your honorable military service.
If you feel that your rating is not correct for your condition, by all means seek an increase.
Before you do...be sure that you can't lose.
Check your current condition's symptoms against the standards you
find in The Schedule For Rating Disabilities. Match your physical or
mental health status to the ones you find there.
If you are confident that you can prove your entitlement to a higher rating, go for it.
If not, sometimes sleeping dogs are best left to just lie there.